March 2015 is Prescribed Fire Awareness Month
Prescribed, or controlled, burning is the skilled application of fire under planned weather and fuel conditions to achieve specific forest and land management objectives. Controlled burning is an ancient practice, notably used by Native Americans for crop management, insect and pest control, and hunting habitat improvement, among other purposes.
The practice continues today under the direction of land managers who understand the appropriate weather conditions, fuel loads and atmospheric conditions for conducting such burns. These carefully applied fires are an important tool to reduce wildfires, maintain wildlife habitat, and keep the more than 13 million acres of forested land in South Carolina healthy and productive.
Read the SC Prescribed Fire Council's release about the proclamation and learn more about this important practice.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the South Carolina Forestry Commission is to protect, promote, enhance, and nurture the forest lands of South Carolina in a manner consistent with achieving the greatest good for its citizens.
Responsibilities extend to all forest lands, both rural and urban, and to all associated forest values and amenities including, but not limited to, timber, wildlife, water quality, air quality, soil protection, recreation, and aesthetics.
Important News, Upcoming Events or New Publications
ATTENTION SOUTH CAROLINA LANDOWNERS: Pine Health Survey
Researchers with the D.B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia will be mailing a survey to South Carolina landowners to assess their knowledge of pine health issues in the next few weeks. Please take the time to complete this important survey. All answers will be kept completely confidential, and information from this survey will help the South Carolina Forestry Commission with landowner education efforts.
Forestry Commission’s 2014 Forestry Report to the Governor and General Assembly (pdf)
Forestry Commission’s Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Report (pdf)
HOT LINKS
Current Wildland Fires in South Carolina
Current State Land Timber Sales - Upcoming timber sales on state owned forestland.
Purchase Recreation Permits Online (opens in a new window)
INFORMATION
South Carolina's Forested Acreage by County (pdf)
South Carolina's Forest Industry Factsheet (pdf)
SC Forest Inventory and Analysis 2012
Factsheet (pdf) Tables (pdf)
SC Timber Products Output and Use, 2011
Factsheet (pdf) Tables (pdf)
State of South Carolina's Forests Fact Sheet (pdf)
State Forest Sustainable Commitment Statement (pdf)
South Carolina Forestry's 2015 Project
South Carolina Forest Resource Assessment (Forest Action Plan)
Primary Forest Industry Directory - list of all wood and paper manufacturing industries in the state.
ATTENTION South Carolina landowners, it's time to GROW SOME GREEN
South Carolina's Most Damaging Wildfire -Highway 31 Fire Horry County
Income Tax Deduction for Timber Casualty Loss (pdf)
Tax Tips for Forest Landowners (pdf)
Federal Income Tax on Timber: A Key to Your Most Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new window)
S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior and S-130 Wildland Firefighter Training Now Available
South Carolina Forestry Commission's Annual Report Summary 2011-2012
PUBLICATIONS
Value of South Carolina's Timber Delivered in 2011 (pdf)
A Landowners Guide to Forestry in South Carolina - 2011 (pdf)
Forest Products Fact Sheet (pdf)
FIREWISE GUIDE TO LANDSCAPING (pdf)
South Carolina Harvest and Utilization Study, 2011 (pdf -opens in another window)
